Edward A. Berens, 80, Lorain Sports Hall of Fame Inductee

He was born December 28, 1920 in Lorain and had been a lifelong Lorain area resident. He was a graduate of the 1939 B Class of Lorain High School where he excelled in baseball. He was invited by the Brooklyn Dodgers to participate in spring training but was drafted into the US Army during World War II before he could report.

Mr. Berens served with the US Army during World War II as a staff sergeant in the 80th Division, Company H, 317th Infantry. He saw action in Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe. He participated in the invasion of Normandy and his name is engraved on the D-Day monument in France. He received the Purple Heart, American Campaign Medal, the European African Middle Eastern Medal with four Bronze Stars and the World War II Victory Medal.

Mr. Berens worked at the B & O Railroad and American Ship Building in Lorain. He then worked at Lake Terminal railroad in Lorain as an inspector and foreman retiring in 1981 after 31 years.

He was a member of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, United Polish Club, Polish American Citizens Club and the Polish Legion of American Veterans Post #38. He enjoyed bowling.

Mr. Berens will be inducted into the Lorain Sports Hall of Fame during ceremonies on May 10th of this year.

He is survived by his daughters Vanessa Kucierke of Lorain, Candace Edgel of Elyria and Monica Berens of Westlake, two granddaughters, one great grandchild, brothers, Donald Berens of Waldorf, Maryland, and Gerald Berens of Avon and sisters Evelyn Krasienko of Lorain and Dolores Saltis of Red Hook, New York. He was preceded in death by his wife Suzanne (nee Katonek) on January 26, 1999, parents, Joseph and Anna (nee Stefick) Berens, brother Robert Berens and sister Annamae Brehm.

Friends may call Wednesday, April 18, 2001 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel, 3224 Broadway, Lorain where the Lorain Sports Hall of Fame will conduct a memorial service Wednesday, April 18, 2001 at 7:30 p.m. Additional visitation will be held in the funeral chapel on Thursday, April 19, 2001 from 10:00 a.m. until the time of funeral service at 11:00 a.m. The Rev. Jimmy Madsen, co-pastor of First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lorain will officiate. Burial will follow in Ridge Hill Memorial Park in Amherst Township where the Disabled American Veterans Post #20 will conduct military honors.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Lorain County Animal Protective League, 8303 Murray Ridge Road, Elyria, OH 44035.